For Parents: Everyday Items You May Not Realize are Drug Paraphernalia-Part 2

(For Part One, Click Here.)

Could Drug Paraphernalia Be in Your Home Right Now?

Many of the items that you may not realize are drug paraphernalia are in your house right now. Don’t worry though because they are in mine too. The only difference between everyday items being just that, everyday items and drug paraphernalia, is the person who is using drugs. This is the second installment of  Everyday Items You May Not Realize are Drug Paraphernalia because there are so many common items that can be used as drug paraphernalia and if you know what to look for you may be able to spot drug abuse in your household before it is too late.

Plates: Plates are an everyday item that everyone has in their house which may be why they are so commonly used by people who are also doing drugs. Plates are a part of drug paraphernalia for someone who is snorting drugs. Drugs that can be snorted are anything that comes in a powdered form such as cocaine or that can be crushed down into powdered form; such as pills. Plates are used as a steady hard surface on which to crush or chop up the substance so it can be snorted. Plates also keep the drugs in one contained area so the person using doesn’t have to worry about losing any of it.

Pacifiers and Lollipops: Pacifiers and lollipops may seem totally harmless but anyone who is not an infant and is using a pacifier may be using ecstasy. One of the main symptoms of ecstasy use is bruxism (grinding teeth). Kids who use ecstasy often will sometimes have pacifiers or lollipops with them to keep them from grinding their teeth down. Instead, these ecstasy or “rave kids” will chew on their pacifiers or suck on lollipops while high.

Razor blades: Razor blades are a more common part of drug paraphernalia that you may not realize are. Usually if you find razor blades you will also be finding plates too which we mentioned earlier. This is because razors are used to chop up powdered drugs into a fine dust that can be snorted. Razors are also used to separate the drugs into “lines” which can be snorted in small amounts. Razor blades are the drug paraphernalia most associated with cocaine and pills.

Water bottles: Water bottles can literally be containers for just about anything and they aren’t always holding water. Water bottles as drug paraphernalia are used to house everything liquid including alcohol and GHB. Water bottles are a great way for kids to hide their drugs because they do look so inconspicuous, also they can carry around their drugs with them, drinking them, and you the parent would have no idea. Pay attention. If your child always has a water bottle with them and their behavior has changed it may be safe to check out what its contents are.

Glow sticks: Glow sticks are fun and are becoming more and more a part of today’s younger generation. You also will find glow sticks on Halloween and other party days such as New Year’s Eve. But if you’re child has glow sticks all the time and maybe they are with a pacifier, it may be sign of ecstasy use or the use of hallucinogens. Hallucinogens or psychedelics as well as club drugs such as ecstasy heighten the effects of glow sticks and are a huge part of the rave scene. Glow sticks and pacifiers used to be the classic signs of ecstasy use and still are.

Remember many of these everyday items that you may not realize are drug paraphernalia should be noticed but what is more important is that you also notice your child’s behavior along with the items. The behavior usually comes first and then you will start to notice the drug paraphernalia all around you.

For more information about drug paraphernalia, check out Part One of this Series or our Parent’s Guide to Drug Abuse: Drug Paraphernalia.

If you or your loved one is in need of treatment for alcohol or drug addiction please give us a call at 800-951-6135.